The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-21
MAX o'RELL.s LECTURE.
The French Satirist EntertainingIy Contra
the Briton and the Gaul.

MAX O'RELL,s LECTURE.
The French, satirist EntertainineIy Contrasts
the Briton and the Gaul.
Report of Lecture in New York World.
Mons. Bouet has a fine power of analysis; he
is essentially critic as we'll a humorist.
character, last evening, IN the following abrupt
manner: LADIES'. genteelmen," he said,
standing with his hands in his trousers pockets.
and with polite smile his good looking
features, when an Engshman speaks French
ever so we'll and comes across Frenchman who
can speak but few words of English. does ne
carry on the conversation in French2 Not he.
He knows that man who speaks a language
with the slightest imperfection appears foolish.
He does not like to appear foolish. 1t is not
with the Frenchman" He paused a second, and
then added. with sly twinkle: ''As you see.'
Thus were good and amicable relations sstab-
lished between Mr. O'Rell and his hearers at
the outset. de then continued: when the
English people arrive at French hotel and
find soap the h-stand, do they con-
clude that the French people carry their soap
in their portm teaux. No, they conclude that
the French people do not wash! This is not
fact. the French people do wash. and thus
sweep away one OF the great prejudices against
US. In France we ought not to be considered a
close letter. Wo do not attempt to hide our
defects; on the contrary, it sometimes seems to
glory in them. But the English people
and, 7 can say. you Americans, judge from
the standpoint OF Paris The young Enelshman
spends week in Paris, and then writes TO his
friend: Old boy. have just returned from
France. What country it Is! can assure
you L have seen sights. l will tell you all
about them-in private
''The Frenchman who goes to London on bust
ness Il say on business, for nobody could think
OF going to London on pleasure. does not at
tempt to Judge of all England from what he secs
the Strand. So neither shall you judge of
France from the Partisan boulevard. l want
you to Jacques Bonhomme, the French
farmer, at home. Jacques is a small landowner.
deeply attached to his country and his cottage.
His great aim is to be independent of tho world.
He needs no John Bright to tell him that saving
the pence makes the pound. He knows the
value of money. He takes gold without repug-
nance, but he looks askance at bank note and
if you should offer him check he'd send for
policeman. He keeps early hours and saves tine
own bed. In politics he takes but little in
terest.. All governments are the same
him. He is not wealthy, bat
he is rich IN what he knows how to do without.
Jacques has had the good luck to be placed
fertile soil. II you talk to him of emigration
he will ask you what crime has been committed
to deserve transportation. But it is at the pier
or in the market that you SEQ him at his best.
Look at him he takes preliminary stroll.
He has made up his mind to make a purchase.
Observe how cautiously be approaches the stall.
He lifts the coveted article with the impesr of
fingers, gives sundry grunts and gestures OF
dsapprobation. then drops it and pretends to go
away. Mark him when he finally decides to
part with portion Of his patrimony. He does
face the enemy. He turns his back and
picks his from q long purse. It takes
five minutes to get at the contents of that purse.
Jacques Bonhonmes wife is the fortune of
France" Here the lecturer drew a strikinglv
realistic picture of the frugal French farm
woman, with her never failing thrift and indus
try and her uufiinching patriotism.
Every different from Jacques Banhomme is
his neighbor. John Bull. John is very large
landowner The sun never sets on his posses
sions. It has been limited that the sun cannot
trust him. His estate consists of the British
Isles, which he has oddly enough given the
name of the United Kingdom, and of big slices
of all other parts of the world. He has acquired
all this territory the cost relatively of little
bloodshed; it was the gift of q find. He keeps it
with a small army. Such is John Bulls sense
of security that in England the lives of mis-
soldiers can be insured without any extra pre-
MUM. But what shall it profit man if he
gain the whole world and lose his soull John
has thought of that and has solved the difficulty.
He has Knocked down to himself the kingdom of
heaven, which in his eyes constitutes much a
part of the British possessions as Canada or
Australia.
1.-THE French fight for glory; the Germans for
their living; the Russians to divert attention
from home affairs: but John Bull fights to help
trade. When he conquers nation it is for their
hest good in this world and the world to come.
How shall we account for this mans remarkable
successl 1 the key to it in these qualities:
his tenacity his clear head and his thick skin.
The English boy is trained at school to be
plucky, pig-headed and oostinately tenacious.
For the mere temporary possession of football
he will grovel in the dust sustain compound
fractures of his limbs without a murmur and
die happy if the intelligence is brought to him
that his side have won the game. John Bull is
indeed a curious mixture of tho lion, the mule
and the octopus.
'.The French boaster is noisy and boisterous.
He wears his hat on the side of his head and
shouts at the top of his voice that France is the
light of the world, but as you look at the dear
fellow you can't help thinking that he doesn't
mean quite all he says. The Englishman never
runs himself down. If he has faults-wel, he'll
let you find them out Not so the Frenchman.
He Is a braggart OF vice. AS has been said be-
FORE when a Frenchman speaks ill of himself
don't believe him; he is boasting. The English
men have quality of what may be called Brit
ish philosophy. 1t teaches them to like what
they have when they cann"t have what they
like. It s this British philosophy which leads
the great London journals to announce on the
morning after their party has scored an over
whelming defeat, that they have gained a great
moral victory The Frenchman knows nothing
of this philosophy. In victory he sees only
glory. and in defeat he sees only disgrace.
believe it is in adversely that the Englishman is
seen at his best If he finds his door being
broken in by a burglar. he politely opens it,
Though he may not save his treasure. he at least
saves the smashing of the door"
Speaking seriously OF English politics and the
English form of govern ment, the lecturer de-
cared that he regards the Englishman the
stanchest monarchst and at the same time the
freest man in Europe. Referring tho subject
of anarchy in France, the lecturer was a trihe
unfortunate, and his advocacy of the theory
that the Anarchist should be ignored and al
lowed TO rant to his hearts content the idea
being that it was only by paying attention to
him that the Anarchist became of any conse
quence the community, received with
marked silence by the audience Clearly NJ.
Biouet has overlooked the tragedy which was
recently PLAYED to an END at Chicago.
The conclusion Of the lecture was an eloquent
eulogy of Francs. and was received with hearty
applause. IF l may turn prophet" said he,
and suppose I NAV, since am not in my own
country. l will venture to predict that the only
rivalry which France and England will ever
know in the future will be the rivalry in the
works of peacs and industry"
Scarcity of Coal Cincinnati.
CINCINNATI, Nov. 20 The present stock of
coal in Cincinnati is half million bushels,
while the usual stock at this time is thre
four million bushels. The low stage OF water in
the Ohio river, which is the chief source of sup
ply tor soft COAL makes it i'm possible add